was officially opened

USAGE SUMMARY

"was officially opened" is a grammatically correct phrase that is commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a formal event or ceremony where something, such as a building, park, or project, is officially inaugurated or made available to the public. Example: The new art museum was officially opened by the mayor last night, marking a significant moment in the city's cultural growth.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The tunnel was officially opened on May 6 , 1994

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Hugh L. Carey Tunnel was officially opened on Monday.

The New York Times

The bridge was officially opened on July 4 , 1874

Encyclopedia Britannica

The center was officially opened in October 2000.

The New York Times

The result, Maranguka, was officially opened in May.

The Guardian

The zoological garden was officially opened in 1844 with municipal support.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In the richly-decorated hall, the Twentieth Zionist World Congress was officially opened.

The New York Times

The Holocaust memorial, designed by the American architect Peter Eisenman, was officially opened in May 2005.

The New York Times

The traditional assembly, the loya jirga, was officially opened to choose a new government.

The New York Times

It was officially opened by Prince Albert II of Monaco in October 2015.

The Guardian

On Wednesday, after more than 10 years of fighting, the incinerator was officially opened.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing events without a formal ceremony, consider using alternative phrases like "became available" or "started operations".

Common error

Avoid using the active voice when the passive voice is more appropriate. For example, instead of "They officially opened the park", use "The park was officially opened".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was officially opened" functions as the predicate of a sentence, indicating that something has been formally inaugurated or made available for use. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Wiki

40%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Science

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was officially opened" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to denote the formal commencement or inauguration of a facility, project, or event. With 63 examples, Ludwig AI confirms its prevalent usage across various sources, mainly News & Media and Wikipedia. Analysis reveals a neutral register, serving the communicative purpose of announcing or reporting such openings. While "was officially opened" is effective, alternatives like "was formally opened" or "was officially launched" may suit specific contexts better. Be mindful of maintaining the passive voice for accurate expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was formally opened

Uses "formally" instead of "officially" to convey a similar sense of proper procedure.

was publicly opened

Replaces "officially" with "publicly", emphasizing the accessibility to the general population.

was officially inaugurated

Replaces "opened" with "inaugurated", often used for significant events or projects.

was officially launched

Substitutes "opened" with "launched", implying a more active or promotional commencement.

was duly opened

Replaces "officially" with "duly", adding a sense of proper procedure or formality.

was officially initiated

Substitutes "opened" with "initiated", focusing on the start or commencement of something.

was officially available

Focuses on the availability rather than the opening ceremony itself.

was officially incorporated

Replaces "opened" with "incorporated", implying the inclusion or integration of something into a larger entity.

saw its official opening

Changes the sentence structure to emphasize the event of the official opening.

was officially reported

Shifts the meaning to the formal reporting or announcement of something.

FAQs

How can I use "was officially opened" in a sentence?

Use "was officially opened" to describe the formal commencement or inauguration of something. For example: "The new museum "was officially opened" to the public last week".

What can I say instead of "was officially opened"?

You can use alternatives like "was formally opened", "was officially launched", or "was inaugurated" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "is officially opened"?

While grammatically possible, "is officially opened" is less common than ""was officially opened"". The latter is generally used for past events, while the former might be used to describe something that is currently in the process of being opened.

What's the difference between "was officially opened" and "is now open"?

""was officially opened"" describes a specific event of inauguration, while "is now open" indicates the current state of being accessible or operational. The former emphasizes the ceremony, the latter the availability.